Suspect who fired at DPS vehicle arrested, school lockdown lifted
Mar 2, 2017, 11:05 AM | Updated: 4:46 pm
(Screenshot)
(Screenshot)
PHOENIX — A suspect was arrested Thursday in the connection with the shooting of an Arizona Department of Public Safety vehicle that sent four Phoenix-area schools into lockdown.
The Phoenix Police Department said the suspect, who was later identified by Avondale police as 29-year-old Luis Aldana, was arrested near Interstate 17 and Dove Valley Road.
The DPS vehicle was shot at near 107th Avenue and Indian School Road in Avondale just before 10 a.m. during a traffic stop.
The trooper in the vehicle — an 11-year veteran who has not been identified — was not injured and did return fire.
Aldana was shot and was transferred to a local hospital in stable condition, Avondale police said.
The schools on lockdown were Westview High School, Garden Lakes Elementary School, Cornerstone Academy and Copper King Elementary School. The Avondale Police Department posted on Facebook about 12:30 p.m. that the schools would be permitted to return to normal schedules.
Television news footage showed authorities searched a vehicle near the Estrella Animal Hospital near 109th Avenue and Thomas Road, but that was fruitless.
Indian School Road was closed between 111th and 107th avenues for the investigation for a couple of hours and reopened slightly after noon. Authorities were checking every car that passed through the area.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
